UNITED NATIONS, April 15: Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan was appointed United Nations Children Funds (Unicef) international Goodwill Ambassador in a formal ceremony on Thursday at the funds offices in New York. “Amitabh has the star power to illuminate the lives of the millions of children who are living in dire circumstances,” said Ms Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of Unicef. “We look forward to a long collaboration with him, and we feel honoured to have him as part of the Unicef family.”

Unicef staff greeted Mr Bachchan and his wife, actor Jaya Bachchan, with a necklace of flowers at the door of Unicef House in a traditional Indian welcome for honoured guests. He then met with Ms Bellamy and later signed a letter of commitment for a two-year assignment with the agency.

“I am thrilled to be named goodwill ambassador, this is a great honour for me,” said Mr Bachchan.